They say that when a human falls into a state of extreme tension, their thoughts can accelerate to incredible speeds. This is a survival instinct; just as the phrase "blood rushing to the head" suggests, a massive amount of energy is diverted to the brain to seek a way to break through the current crisis.
However, the fact that one’s thoughts are moving faster doesn't necessarily mean they'll actually come up with a good idea. Sometimes, you think and think and come up with absolutely nothing.
That was exactly where I was right now.
I was currently soaking in a large bathtub, sitting in a rigid seiza at the bottom because I was too nervous to do anything else.
The water should have been at a comfortable temperature, but perhaps because my own body temperature was skyrocketing, it felt a bit lukewarm. No, "lukewarm" didn't cover it—I was already pushed to my absolute limit.
"Phew~ It feels so good~"
"……Yes…… Warm."
Empty your mind. Become void... I am a rock. I am an inanimate object. Clear your heart of all thought...
"Muu..."
"……Kuromueina?"
"I knew it, Isis’s chest is bigger..."
"……Is it? ……I think…… there isn't…… much difference."
Stop! Please, stop it... Why are you two doing the cliché "comparing breast sizes" bit right now?!
Usually in fiction, the men’s and women’s baths are separated, and the protagonist gets flustered by the voices drifting over the wall. But right now, both of them were right in front of me.
"……But…… Kuromueina can…… change your size…… however you want."
"Well, that’s true, but this form is my base, you see. Look, it’s a bit smaller than Isis’s, right?"
"……Yes…… but…… Kuromueina’s chest…… is smooth and soft."
"Ahaha, Isis’s is soft and springy too; it feels good to touch."
I had thought this once before, but I was truly grateful that the water in this hot spring was cloudy. Though, to be honest, a part of me felt it was a bit of a waste...
The sight of Kuro and Isis-san soaking in the water was enough to make anyone salivate. It was incredible—but Kuro was the dangerous one. She moved around more than Isis-san, and I felt like she might stand up at any second if I let my guard down.
"……Oh? Kaito-kun?"
"……Kaito…… are you okay?"
"Huh?! Ah, yes. Um, I-I’m fine. It feels great! Th-the hot spring, I mean!"
They must have been worried because I’d been silent for so long. I replied with a nervousness that was painfully obvious even to my own ears.
"Yeah. A big bath is wonderful... Ah! I know!"
Kuro gave me a beaming smile, then seemed to think of something and started moving toward me.
I didn't know what she had in mind, but I had a terrible premonition. I felt like I needed to run, but moving carelessly felt like it would only lead to a different kind of disaster.
"There we go."
"?! Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing, K-Kuro?!"
"Sticking close to Kaito-kun makes me happy."
"~~!?"
Kuro glided over and sat right on my lap with a perfectly natural motion.
What on earth is this girl doing?! This is bad, this is really, really bad! A heavenly sensation was pressing down on my knees...
Never before had I been so glad that I was sitting in seiza. If I had loosened my posture even slightly, a certain part of my body that was reacting completely would have bumped right into Kuro. I absolutely could not move an inch.
"……Kuromueina…… that's unfair."
"!?"
It’s not unfair! It’s not unfair at all, Isis-san! Stop, please stop, I can't take this... anything more than this and I’ll—
I felt a surge of terror at Isis-san’s ominous words as she approached. With Kuro on my lap, I was pinned down.
Despite the desperate screams in my heart, Isis-san went behind me. She wrapped her arms around my torso and pressed her chest firmly against my back.
"!?!?"
"……It’s true…… doing this…… makes me…… very happy."
"Right~?"
What was this blissful sandwich?! Were they trying to kill me?! My sanity was being annihilated without a trace.
I felt the sensation of twin mounds being crushed against my back from behind, and the sensation of soft, shifting curves on my lap from the front. It wasn't just my spirit being worn down; my mind went blank under a shock so great it felt like I’d been snapped in two.
"Huh? Kaito-kun?"
"……Kaito?"
"……………………"
My consciousness began to drift away. The storm of chaotic thoughts that had been raging moments ago was suddenly replaced by a profound silence.
I see... so this is enlightenment. No, wait... it’s the exact opposite. I’m drowning in worldly desires.
As that thought crossed my mind, my brain completely overheated... and I blacked out.
"……Ugh, nngh…… Huh? I..."
"Ah! Kaito-kun! Thank goodness, you’re awake."
Feeling a slight chill, I shifted my body and heard Kuro's worried voice.
Oh, right. I fainted. It didn't feel like I was out for very long, but...
"You got dizzy from the heat, didn't you? Sorry, I didn't notice."
"No... how long was I out?"
"Hm? Oh, only a few minutes. Isis went to get you a drink."
"I see, I'm sor—pfft?!"
It seemed I had only been out for a moment. To be accurate, I hadn't been dizzy from the heat; I’d just overheated from extreme tension, but I decided to keep that quiet for the sake of my dignity.
Feeling bad that Kuro and Isis-san had to look after me, I slowly opened my eyes—and my brain ground to a halt.
Since only a few minutes had passed, we were still inside the bathing area. I should have been able to predict this if I had thought about it for even a second.
But because I had just woken up, I wasn't being sharp. I opened my eyes without considering my current position.
What jumped into my vision was Kuro's relieved face... followed by two small, completely exposed mounds topped with cherry-colored peaks.
I was currently receiving a lap pillow from a completely naked Kuro.
My muddled consciousness snapped awake instantly. I scrambled to get up in a panicked frenzy.
"S-s-s-sorry!"
"Are you okay? You should probably lie down a little longer..."
"I-I’m fine!! Really!!"
I practically launched myself off Kuro's lap. I turned my head away, my heart hammering so hard it felt like it would burst. The image of Kuro I’d just seen was burned into my retinas. I couldn't think straight.
"……Ah…… Kaito…… I'm so glad."
"!?!?"
But the situation refused to improve.
The moment I turned my head, the door to the bath opened as if on cue. Isis-san appeared, holding a cup.
Given her personality, there was no doubt she had panicked when I fainted. She must have rushed to get water, not even pausing to wrap a towel around herself.
The result was that I was now staring at a completely naked Isis-san from the front.
"!?!? Ugh!?"
"Kaito-kun?! You have a nosebleed!"
"……Kaito?!"
Faced with a back-to-back series of shocking developments, my mind finally reached its breaking point. Along with an intensity of excitement that shouldn't have been humanly possible, blood sprayed from my nose.
A nosebleed from excitement? What am I, a middle schooler? This was the pathetic reality of a virgin seeing a naked woman for the first time.
"I knew it, you're still dizzy! Isis, stop the bleeding with healing magic!"
"Y-Yeah! ……The bed…… is this way."
"Got it!"
"!?"
Seeing the state I was in, Kuro and Isis-san rushed toward me. Stop! Please stop! I’ve already exceeded every possible limit!
Kuro held her hand over my face and stopped the bleeding instantly. As Isis-san turned to lead the way, my body was hoisted up with one hand. I mean, I easily weigh over sixty kilograms... As expected of Kuro.
It had turned into a major ordeal, but the only saving grace—the absolute only one—was that both of them genuinely thought I had just gotten dizzy from the hot water.
If they found out I’d had a massive nosebleed from seeing them naked, I would have died of shame.
With that final thought, my exhausted mind demanded rest, and my consciousness sank back into the muddled depths of sleep.
I slowly opened my eyes in a dim room. It seemed I had been out for a significant amount of time this time.
It was truly pathetic, but apparently, for someone with zero experience with women, the stimulation of two incredible beauties like Kuro and Isis-san was just too much.
Should I lament my spinelessness, or should I be relieved that fainting prevented my sanity from snapping and leading to some kind of rampage? Regardless, it seemed I had somehow survived the greatest trial of my life.
I was lying in a bed now. My throat felt dry. I should get up... wait. I felt something on both of my hands.
"Nyuh..."
"……Suu."
"……………………"
I take it back. I hadn't survived the trial at all. The greatest trial of my life was still very much in progress.
Dear Mother, Father—the mixed bath with my two lovers, Kuro and Isis-san, was a constant battle of panic and struggle. I reached the point of fainting with a nosebleed, but it seems... it’s not over yet.
The sugar phase continues... Kaito, just explode already. Please, just blow up... or better yet, just die.
Bonus: Meanwhile, in the God Realm
"Shallow Vernal-sama? What are you doing?"
"I am constructing a hot spring."
"……Why?"
"I am going to have a mixed bath with Kaito-san."
"Wha—?! N-no! You mustn't! That is completely indecent!!"
"I see... so the God of Space-Time wishes to join us as well?"
"Pardon? Sh-Shallow Vernal-sama? What on earth are you..."
"In that case, I shall summon you the next time Kaito-san visits."
"W-wait a minute! Shallow Vernal-sama?!"